The visit was designed to highlight small businesses and their special needs and how a John McCain administration would help them.

And the Republican vice presidential candidate did talk business and taxes with Matthew and Bruce Boyer, whose family has owned and worked this 300-acre orchard for 51 years now.

But it was after their business chat that Palin had some special moments with a special fan, Amber Brown. As Palin left the barn, an excited crowd outside was mid-verse singing "God Bless America," but roared at the sight of Palin.

Brown, who is 23 and from New Paris, held a poster that said: “I have Down’s syndrome and I’m voting for you. I’m a fighter too!”

Palin saw Brown, headed straight for her and they embraced. “I love that poster!" said the mother of a Down syndrome baby (Click on Read more line below to see photo of Palin with her infant son, Trig).

Palin then continued down the rope line, paying special attention to the babies and children, at one point crouching down beside four little girls.

Once Palin finished, she returned to Brown and embraced her again. Palin's husband, Todd, also came by and chatted with Brown and her family.

This is not an unusual encounter for the 44-year-old mother of five, who gets a little emotional at such moments, as a recent MSNBC video unexpectedly captured.

Before meeting Brown, Palin talked with the Boyers, the small businessmen who told her of skyrocketing costs and....

...difficulties during picking times finding legal migrant workers, who just this week finished harvesting some 5,000 bushels of apples a day.

“It’s increasingly difficult to find legal help,” Matthew Boyer said. “People don’t understand this immigration issue. You know we need workers. We can’t get a local person to help us. It’s hard work.”

Bruce Boyer added, “Like it or not, we need migrant help.”

Matthew Boyer added that insuring that commercial agriculture has a supply of legal migrant workers assures that the food America consumes continues to be grown in the United States, which is vital for the nation’s security.

Boyer also said that he knows some of his migrant workers, and considers them “brothers,” and that people don’t understand that they are not seeking citizenship; rather, they want to work, earn some money and return to their family.

Palin discussed taxes, saying she wants to reduce the orchard’s taxes. “That allows you to grow and expand and provide more to your employees," she said. "That’s a piece.”